Heartleaf philodendron trailing from a wicker basket — Photo: Greg Weaver · CC0

Heartleaf philodendron care

Philodendron hederaceum · Araceae

Also called Sweetheart plant, Philodendron scandens, Parlor ivy.

By the Greenie team · Fact-checked October 5, 2026

A climbing vine native from Mexico and the Caribbean to Brazil and Bolivia, and probably the most widely sold philodendron. Its glossy, heart-shaped leaves trail from shelves and baskets or climb a moss pole. It tolerates dim rooms and dry air, which makes it one of the easiest houseplants to keep.

Toxic to pets Low light Easy care Fast growing

Light

Medium Light

Watering

Weekly

Difficulty

Easy

Pets

Toxic to cats and dogs

Height indoors

0.5-2 m

Growth

Fast

TemperatureUnconfirmed

18-29 °C

Not below 13 °C

Humidity

40% - 60%

Average room humidity

Soil pH

6.0-6.5

Slightly acidic soil

Native to

Mexico
Belize
Guatemala
El Salvador
Honduras
Nicaragua
Costa Rica
Panama
Cuba
Cayman Islands
Jamaica
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
Trinidad & Tobago
Colombia
Venezuela
Guyana
Suriname
French Guiana
Ecuador
Peru
Bolivia
Brazil
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Caribbean Netherlands
St. Barthélemy
Guadeloupe
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Martin
Montserrat
Sint Maarten
British Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Barbados
Dominica
Grenada
St. Lucia
Martinique
St. Vincent & Grenadines

Through the year

Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy, watering when the surface dries. Water less in autumn and winter.

Spring
Weekly
Take cuttings, repot crowded plants and start feeding.
Summer
Weekly
Keep the soil evenly moist and out of direct sun.
Autumn
Every 2 weeks
Stop feeding and let the surface dry between waterings.
Winter
Every 2 weeks
Keep it away from cold glass and water sparingly.

Feeding

Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Dilute water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, or a slow-release one at the start of spring.

Care tips

Pinch for bushiness
Nip off stem tips to push out side shoots near the pot.
Root cuttings in spring
Cut below a node and stand the piece in water or moist mix.
Train or trail
Let it hang from a basket or tie it to a moss pole, where leaves grow larger.
Feed lightly
Too much fertilizer makes the leaf tips curl and brown.

Common problems

Yellow lower leaves

What you seeOlder leaves turn yellow and the growing tips die back.

What to doCheck that the soil is not staying wet and move the plant to a brighter spot.
Leggy stems

What you seeLong, thin stems with small leaves far apart.

What to doGive it more light and pinch the tips to make it branch.
Aphids or mealybugs

What you seeClusters of small insects or white fluff on new growth.

What to doRinse them off and treat with insecticidal soap until no more appear.

Pets

Is heartleaf philodendron safe for cats and dogs?

Toxic to cats and dogs. Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting.

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as safe for cats and dogs

Good to know

Hederaceum means ivy-like, a nod to how it trails and climbs like English ivy.
It is often confused with pothos; philodendron leaf stalks are smooth, while pothos stalks have a groove.